By Teboho Serutla
Police authorities have received a letter from youth representatives Kananelo Boloetse and Motsamai Mokotjo – penned by their legal representatives M.S. Legal Chambers – who request a meeting with the Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) Commissioner Holomo Molibeli.
In the letter the youth representatives say they lodged a complaint with the Thetsane Police Station on January 29 against individuals who attended the funeral of the late former Major General Metsing Lekhanya in contravention of Public Health (COVID-19 Risk Determination and Mitigation) Regulations No 2 of 2021.
They insist the regulations were breached as the ‘State’ requires funerals to be attended by only 10 close family members with 10 men present to assist with burying the corpse, yet they could not keep up to their own rulings as a lot of mourners identified at Lekhanya’s funeral were not family members.
They say the Thetsane Police referred them to the District Police Commanding Officer Maseru Urban, Senior Superitendent Litsietsi Selimo as the complaint involved high ranking government officials; Selimo consulted and directed them to his superior, Assistant Commissioner Hlaele Rampai and provided a date for a meeting.
However, in the subsequent meeting, they were told that a case will not be opened case against the offenders because the regulations do not provide for state funerals.
“Our clients have instructed us to inform your good self of the aforesaid stated position of the LMPS, and would like to appeal the decision not to institute criminal proceedings against individuals who clearly violated the law and clearly put the rest of the nation at danger, more so because the late Major General and his wife are reported to have met their demise at the hands of COVID-19,” the letter continues.
Speaking during a phone-in programme on a local radio station, Compol Molibeli confirmed receipt of the letter and that he will communicate a date to meet with the youth representatives within 14 days.
